Whitmire accuses regents’ nominees of having a ‘mission’

Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, told the three nominees to the UT board of regents that he believes they have a “mission” to end the tenure of UT-Austin William Powers.

Although nominees Jeff Hildebrand of Houston, Paul Foster of El Paso and Ernest Aliseda of McAllen denied they have promised anyone to fire Powers, Whitmire — citing his 40 years in the Legislature — said he was “cynical” about their responses.

All three said they would not move to remove a UT president without a recommendation from Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa, which did not mollify Whitmire.

“The common theme is you are going to follow Cigarroa,” said Whitmire, but “the chancellor’s job is tenuous at best.”

He suggested that the chancellor’s “survival” could be dependent on whether or not he continues to support Powers.

Members of the Legislature have been harshly critical of the UT regents for “micro-managing” UT-Austin and conducting a “witch hunt” to find grounds to fire Powers.

The three nominees appeared before the Senate nominations committee which must vote whether to confirm their appointments. At Monday’s hearing, Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, read an email from a current regent, Denver businessman Alex Cranberg, who called Powers egotistical and not “a doer.”